The general impression is that when riding a two-wheeler girls are free to move anywhere without even a driving license. But at the same time traffic police claims that 70 per cent women do possess driving licenses with them.

IF THERE is a shortage of women cops due to which girls riding scooters are not thoroughly checked or is that a mere excuse to avoid going after the fair sex? CO Rohan Kanay, however, maintains that this is the reason but also insists that they have been intercepting women commuters.

They may as well be asked: women cops may be farer in number. But aren't girl riders also much less in proportion to the male riders. The general impression is that when riding a two-wheeler girls are free to move anywhere without even a driving license. But at the same time traffic police claims that 70 per cent women do possess driving license with them.

In this regard, CO (Traffic), Mr. Rohan Kanay informed that they also carry out an intensive checking drive of two-wheelers and four- wheelers. However, Mr. Kanay also admitted that women riding a two- wheeler are often let off without checking their driving licenses. It is because, most girls are such who do not even have knowledge about vehicles.

"Sometimes, when girls are stopped during checking drive and asked for their driving license, they start crying immediately," the CO says, "it also makes us feel embarrassed".

On the contrary, the girls who of late fall prey to traffic police had to face tough time. Pooja Chaudhari (name changed), resident of Dhoomanganj had a peculiar experience when she was caught driving a two-wheeler without a driving license in her area. Renuka, resident of Teliarganj, who used to drive a two wheeler without a license for almost three years, decided to get her driving license just a week back, fearing that the checking going on at different places might land her in trouble.

The authorities have tightened the rules and are keeping vigil on women drivers well for riding two and four-wheelers without driving licenses. Law is same for every person. During routine checking everyone will be checked, including woman drivers. Sympathetically, girls are often spared from checking but having a license would only benefit them. If drivers have license, the authorities are less harsh in case of accidents unless it is done knowingly, said a traffic official.

However, the traffic police did not reveal how many girls were apprehended without driving licenses each day. Sources close to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) have confirmed that since the past 20-25 days, eight to ten women turn up each day for getting driving licenses. Most of the women come to get the license for two- wheelers.

Prior to this, girls were seldom seen there. In rare cases, a maximum of two to three girls used to come in a day to get the driving license, sources added. The minimum age for getting the driving license for vehicles without gear is 16 to 18 years and the minimum age for vehicles with gears is 18 years. Mr. Kanay also maintained that since the traffic police do not have many women constables even then, they would carry out routine checking including women driving two- or four wheelers.